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Medieval Ahist exam 1 part 2
Byzantine and Early Medieval art
16
Art History
Undergraduate 2
09/24/2008

Additional Art History Flashcards

 


 

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Term

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Church of the Hagia Sophia, Constantinople

Definition
-Made under rule of Justinian after the Nikka revolt
-A work of mathmatitians rather than artists
-Used as a mosque when turks invaded, now secular buidling. Intensely decorated, said to be made by the divine, not human hands
-made of a series of shells, has a large dome on pendentives
-Upper galleries were for women, entire inside was covered with revetement
-True cross relic was there, brought by St. Helena was in the original Hagia Sophia, many relics taken when it was sacked
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San Vitale, Ravenna

Definition
-Made under rule of Justinian
-Simple exterior, magnificent interior-common with christian churches as they became private
-Holds mosaics of Justinian and Theodora beneath Christ mosaic in sanctuary.
-Founded in honor of St. Vitalis
-Central plan church, octagonal shape
     -8 as the days of creatoin and the passion
-Has a theme of sacrifice throughout, bluish green color used often. Mosaics use the old testament sacrifice mosaics to prefigure the sacrifice of christ.
Term

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Sant Apollinare in Classe Ravenna

Definition
-Made under the rule of Justinian, he was the patron although he never visited ravenna.
-Santuary mosaic of Transfiguration of christ inside
-Mosaic includes st. appolinare
Term

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Apse Mosaic, Transfiguratoin of Christ, Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna

Definition

-Transfiguration of Christ-apse mosaic

-sheep and christ, elija and mosis in the sky

-3 sheep=peter, john and james

12 sheep=12 apostles

hand of god reaching down

transfiguration brings three deciples up to the mountain to make three houses, the story connects jesus with elija and moses

-St. Appolinare is pictured rejoicing at christ's triumph over death, less depth in landscape depicted

-Typology reinforced the established church's emphasis on the human AND divine nature of christ

 

Term
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Justinian Mosaic, San Vitale Ravenna
Definition

-Justinian is pictured in a mosaic below (grouped with) christ, ruling the material world as Christs's vicar, representing his  symbolic presence at all times.Connecting himself to old testament imagery of sacrifices.

-He is flanked by his bishop maximian and his general, showing the duality of his rule

 -Justinian ruled 527-565, with the help of his advisers he revitalized and unified the empire.

-Despite the well organized bureaucracy he organized, he raised taxes too high and was unpopular, resulting in the Nika rebellion in 532.

-In trying to re-unify he called church councils to reconcile the christian factions and emerged the political head of the church.
-He became a secular emporer who ruled as a sacred moarch, living in a sacred place surrounded by elaborate rituals.

 

The emporer is attended by his courtiers, Archbishop Maximian holds his gift to the church, a Eucharistic plate

 

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Theodora and her attendants Mosaic from San Vitale Ravenna

Definition

-The empress is presented with her guard and ladies and compliments Justinian's action by offering a chalice. She is eternally participating in the celebration of Mass at the altar though she never visited Ravenna.

-All movement towards the altar

 

Term

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The Emporer Victorious; the Barberini Ivory, 6th century

Definition
 
-An idealized emporer clad in Roman armor may echo the statue of Justinian once in constantinople.
-Carving includes antique emblems and religious allusions, mixing pagan and christian iconography
-Personification of earth supporting Justinian's foot, winged victory holding a palm cheers him on while christ blesses him from the heavens above surrounded by angels
-Shows Emporer conquering wild barbarians
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 Portrait of the author at work with an assistant and Inspiration, Dioscorides, Materia Medicia, Constantinople 512

Definition

-Copied from an encyclopedia of medicinal herbs by Dioscorides

-Is a portrait of the author of the book, represented as a scholar seated with a book on his lap.

-INSPIRATION sits close by inspiring him, holding a mandrake root

-his assistant studies a plant as he records it

Term

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Ascension and Crucifixion and Women at the Holy Tomb pages from Rabbula Gospels

 

Definition

-Probably copied from classical models because of proportions, poses and gestures

-Acension depicts apocaliptic imagery, the four beasts of the apocalypse emerging with eye studded wings are beneath christ. Focus is directed to the Virgin in the pose of an orant figure, praying for the faithful who wil come before her son on the day of judgement

-The lower piece, the women at the holy tomb and crucifixion depicts christ as a mature, regal figure alive and triumphant on the cross.

 

Term

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Eagle-Shaped Fibulae, Spain 6th c

Definition
-Made by visgoths on the Iberian peninsula who hadrecently settled and accepted christianity. 

-Eagle brooches combine polychrome and animal styles, shows their pagan heritage rendered the bird in flight with outspread wings and tail. Use a rich assortment of gems.

-The eagle was a popular motif in western art as an ancient sun symbol, the symbol of imperial rome and later the emblem of St. John.

 

 

Term

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Shoulder Clasp from Sutton Hoo England

Definition
-Made by the Anglo-Saxons who had just became rulers of the British Isles, shows their Scandinavian ancestry.
-Found at the sutton hoo burial site, perhaps buried with king Raedwald

-Their form is based on Roman parade armor. There is highly visible red and gold-which are the colors of royalty, but the borders show animal designs remnicent of the scandinavian style.

-Depicted within are boars, which could be a personal emblem.

-Shows their continued belief in a vessel bringing the dead to Valhalla with their posessions, to establish the credentials of the deceased in the afterlife.

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Buckle, Sutton Hoo, England

Definition
-Also potentially buried with King Raedwald

-Of anglo-saxon workmanship (Those of scandinavian heritage who conquered the british isles) shows very strong connections to scandanavian relatives.

-Hawk heads and serpants and dragons are depicted, a mass of serpents and dragons in 2D "vendel" style make up the intricate patterns that from a distance look celtic.

-Shows their continued belief in a vessel bringing the dead to Valhalla with their posessions, to establish the credentials of the deceased in the afterlife.

Term

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Lion of John and Man of Matthew, Book of Durrow, Northern England c. 650-700

Definition

-Book of Durrow made in Iona

-These are the pages the preceed each respective gospel.

-The Lion is quite ferocious, framed by interlaces. The lions head is covered with stippling. Typical pictish bands in yellow mark the muscles, tail, eye, and claws.

-The Man, matthew's symbol recalls the art of enamel workers. His body is a block of pattern resembling suttton hoo clasps. The only human elements are his head and feet. His hair is in the fashion of the celtic church with a shaved forehead and hair behind his ears, one of the points of difference between celtic and roman churches.

-This Matthew is flatter, less realistic and more decorated than the Lindesfarne matthew

Term

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St. Matthew and Carpet page preceeding Matthew's Gospel, Lindesfarne Gospels, Northumbria

Definition

-Each gospel is preceeded by the author's portrait and a cruciform carpet page. 

-Author portrait adopted from Byzantine author portrait, closely resembling the portrait of the scribe Ezra from the Codex Amiatinus. The two figures are similar in posture, hand positions and chairs and footstools. The Ezra portrait was probably more exactly copied since he is placed in context. 

-Is more 3D and realistic than the book of Durrow Matthew, shows him actually writing instead of standing

 

-The Cross carpet page was done with complexity and control, painted like metalwork. Shapes derived from earlier insular art, filled with animals. The artist, denied the concept of foreground and background for pure geometry like Scandanavian and Anglo Saxon goldsmiths.

-Work like this was a labor of love, of meditation, and was very difficult because of the medium

Term

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The Scribe Ezra, Codex Amiatinus, Northumbria early 8th c

Definition

 -The painter of the ezra piece captured his model's illusionistic modeling and perspective, including furniture.

Shows space and setting unlike the st. matthew painter who rejects realistic portrayal.

Term

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Monogram of Christ and the Virgin and Child, Book of Kells, Iona and kells, late 8th c

Definition

 -This image leads us to believe that kells painters were highly influenced by mediterranean models perhaps in illustrated books.

-The Virgin and Child monogram shows broadly draped mantle folds, hieratic immobility and hypnotically impressive faces.

-The throne is in classical style but does not occupy illusionistic space. The illustrators included their own celtic imagery through much use of geometric and animal decoration.

-Here they mix the byzantine style with celtic decoration.

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